Boasting a wealth of talent in their youth ranks, West Bromwich Albion certainly have plenty of youngsters knocking on Carlos Corberan’s door for more opportunities.

Many will have seen the meteoric rise of Taylor Gardner-Hickman, from academy graduate to first-team starter, and will believe they can be the next big thing at the Hawthorns.

Despite having endured a miserable season, the 20-year-old has been one of the few shining lights.

Forced to deputise in a number of positions, he outlined his maturity and confidence in his ability as he featured at right back under Steve Bruce.

Only when Richard Beale took over was he moved to his favoured position, where he could go on to win them the game against Reading with a goal and an assist.

These experiences in different positions will certainly aid him in the long run, as his knowledge of the game will only be boosted, but his future is one which clearly lay in the engine room.

He boasts too much attacking flair and a relentless spirit that should not be confined to defence.

Gardner-Hickman’s rise through the ranks has unsurprisingly led to an increase in his value, which will come as a pleasing outcome for the hierarchy at the club who have seen talents such as Saido Berahino and Chris Wood pass through for a big profit.

Only in May of 2022 was he valued at just €600k (£528k), however as recent as October of 2022 this had increased by 98% to an impressive €1.2m (£1.04m).

To see such a growth in just five months bodes well for the rest of his career, which is only just getting started at the Hawthorns.

With performances last season that drew journalists Joe Ellis and Alex Dicken to label him “a cut above the rest” and “menacing”, it is clear that with each season he seems to improve on the last.

Should he continue his impressively upward trajectory, the sky really is the limit for Gardner-Hickman and his seemingly ever-increasing value.